NEAR MISS: Gerrard was close to a move to Stamford Bridge but decided to stay with boyhood club Liverpool [GETTY]

That was back in the summer of 2005 when Rodgers was working alongside Jose Mourinho in his backroom staff.

They all believed at Chelsea that they had got their man and prised Gerrard away from his beloved home.

But breaking news running along the bottom of their telly in the training ground canteen told them what they didn’t want to know – Gerrard was staying at Anfield.

Mourinho said at the time: “I think it is Gerrard’s loss more than Chelsea’s. When he decides not to join this club I think it will be a loss for him, for his career.

“I can say to him in the next 10 years we will compare trophies at Chelsea and trophies at Liverpool and he will lose.”

Mourinho, who also claimed five years later that Liverpool would win nothing, could be about to eat his hurtful words if Chelsea fail at the Kop today and skipper Gerrard goes on to lift the Premier League trophy.

A moment to relish, to treasure for “Mr Liverpool” who will be the first to say winning the title with Liverpool means so much more than being a champion at any other club.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: Gerrard in on the verge of Premier League glory with Liverpool [GETTY]

Rodgers, asked if everyone at Chelsea thought they sealed the Gerrard deal, said: “Yes, it looked like it was done to be fair. It was a really close thing.

“It was only when we came in off the training ground one day and we were in the canteen. It flashed up that it wasn’t going to happen. He wasgoing to sign a new deal.

“Jose had come into the club and had a real impact on football. They were buying the top players.

“If Steven wins the Premier League is that worth three or four times what it would be if he had won it somewhere else? He knows he’s done it true to his own values and the values of his club”

Brendan Rodgers

“But thankfully for me and the supporters, Steven stayed and it would be really fitting if we could do something special this year for him.

“If Steven wins the Premier League is that worth three or four times what it would be if he had won it somewhere else? He knows he’s done it true to his own values and the values of his club.

“Success for me as a manager is helping people achieve their dreams. That’s my dream. I want to do well but I won’t be crying when I’m 70 as long as I have helped people improve and achieve their dream.

“For Steven, it’s about Liverpool. For others it will be: Right let’s get the trophies here, get the money there’.

“For Steven Gerrard, if he wanted money or trophies he could have very easily walked out of here. But knowing the man and working with him for two seasons, he’s more than that.”

If Liverpool are crowned Kings of England, Rodgers will spare an emotional thought or two about Gerrard’s sidekick Jamie Carragher who also devoted his whole footballing life to their one club.

TOP FOR THE KOP: Ex-Chelsea coach Rodgers has done a fantastic job with the Reds [GETTY]

Rodgers switched off from the title race and all the demands on the boss of Liverpool to relax listening to his former defender at “A night with Jamie Carragher” at the city’s St George’s Hall on Thursday.

And his mind wondered to a “what if” scenario. What if Carragher was still at the heart of his defence and picking up the medal which had eluded him, too.